The Senate has vowed to invoke parliamentary sanctions against any head of Federal Government agencies indicted for financial infractions in the report submitted to the National Assembly by the Auditor General for the Federation (AuGF)......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
Senator Garba Madoki, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, issued the warning at a one-day roundtable workshop on ‘Strengthening Legislative Compliance for Effective Governance.’
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), organised the workshop for the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance.
The AuGF, in his latest annual report on the financial conduct of public institutions, currently before the two chambers of the National Assembly, revealed that MDAs had expended a total sum of N105.66bn in breach of extant rules and regulations.
The report stated that N18.36bn had been awarded for contracts without regard to the Public Procurement Act.
The AuGF also expressed concern over the system’s persistent inherent weaknesses despite his previous recommendations to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Accountant General of the Federation for prompt action.
However, the Chairman of the Senate Legislative Compliance Panel said the Senate Committee on Public Accounts was already dealing with the AuGF report.
He said, “We will take this job seriously. And where sanctions are required, we will not hesitate to sanction any MDA that violates the laws of this country, either inadvertently or willfully.”
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in his speech read on the occasion by his deputy, Jibrin Barau, also said the 10th National Assembly would not tolerate any head of the MDAs who flouted its resolutions.
He said, “As representatives of the people, one of our core mandates is to ensure that the resolutions and laws passed by the legislature are implemented effectively.
“This task is not just about oversight; it is about ensuring that the aspirations of Nigerians, as articulated through their representatives, are translated into meaningful action and positive outcomes.
“Legislative compliance is critical to the success of governance. Without it, the effectiveness of the National Assembly is undermined, public trust in government is eroded, and the development agenda is stalled.
“Our responsibility goes beyond enacting laws—it extends to ensuring their implementation by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and holding those who fail to comply accountable.”
The acting Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, said legislative compliance was not merely a legal framework but the backbone of good governance.
He said, “It ensures that our laws are enacted, effectively implemented, and respected throughout our society. Through robust legislative processes and compliance mechanisms, we can enhance citizen trust and confidence in our institutions, paving the way for sustainable development and social justice.”
*To sanction MDAs over failure to comply with resolutions on Auditor General’s report, others
Madoki lamented the rate at which heads of the MDAs have been shunning Senate summons and warned that further disregard for the resolutions of the red chamber would no longer be tolerated.
He said, “We are going to be very strict on the report of the Auditor General for the Federation. We are taking notes of those items. In a very short while, measures will be taken against everybody who refuses to comply with Senate resolutions.
“Where compliance is not done, I can guarantee that actions will be taken against whoever infringes on those reports.”
A few months ago, the AuGF expressed concerns over irregularities and weaknesses in government financial regulations across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), especially in the disbursement and utilisation of public funds.
The AuGF noted that transparency and accountability in government financial management systems could not be overemphasised, particularly given the country’s rapidly dwindling revenues and their impact on the annual budget.
The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof Abubakar Sulaiman, lamented that ensuring compliance with laws, resolutions, and policies by MDAs is often fraught with challenges.
Sulaiman listed the challenges: Weak enforcement mechanisms, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and a lack of political will.
He said the development could undermine the impact of legislative decisions, thereby eroding public trust in governance.”
